Morning all.
It’s pretty much impossible to be positive these days. Arsenal fans are divided in their opinion over the managers position, fighting broke out after the game on Sunday and now players are blaming each other for the dreadful results on the pitch. Well, to be more precise, Mertesacker has suggested that the players up front are costing the team as they are not clinical enough in front of goal. His comments came after the 2-0 loss to Barcelona but to be honest, he could say that after any match of late, apart from when we beat Championship side Hull City 4-0.
Sunday was a perfect example with Elneny spurning a couple of great chances, Iwobi hit the post, Alexis failed to make contact with a cross which looked easier to score from than miss, Chambers missed a goal by inches and Danny Welbeck missed the target right at the end but they are far from being alone during that match and in many others this season. Not scoring goals is costing us big time and I know that’s stating the bleedin obvious!
Arsene Wenger, according to reports, believes that the off-field stuff like banners, fans moaning about him, Kroenke and the performances is getting to the players and it isn’t helping their cause. Er, I think he’s got that the wrong way around as it’s the shoddy performances which have left the fans cheesed off and it’s his job to turn things around.
But he hasn’t been able to, not yet and time is running out for this season if Arsenal are to get their customary top four place. Apparently the players receive a bonus if a Champions League spot is secured each season so perhaps they might improve sometime soon although they get paid more than enough as it is. As does the manager!
As much as Merts blames the lack of goals for our poor results, what about his own defensive performances which on Sunday was nothing short of comical, and Gabriel, he was equally as bad, if not worse. They really were awful for the two Watford goals and as said yesterday, they made school boy errors on both so it’s not just the attacking players who are letting themselves down. As is the manager because it’s his job to organise, coach and motivate but clearly he’s not, not if the players body language and individual performances are anything to go by.
According to reports this morning, the owner and board remain 100% behind Arsene Wenger which is probably why many fans blame Stan Kroenke as any ambitious majority shareholder would have a replacement lined up for the summer already.
Still, perhaps Arsene Wenger will do the decent and right thing…..
I found an interesting piece the other day, the Football Fortress by BetHut which shows the grounds that are best known for being ‘fortresses’ – funny The Emirates isn’t on it…
Barca up tomorrow, excited??
Arsene blames the fans. In any football team as in the business world,you are judged
on results. Based on these there is no doubt the fm has failed dismally.
He blames everybody except himself.What a shame. We all know the gunners like
to leave big gaps for teams to counter attack.Even my great grand pa 99 years old can see the problem.
I just hope he leaves asap when the season ends otherwise he could be a danger to Arsenal.
Morning Rico. Mert should stfu. We win and loose as a team. so if we lost means that his defence cocked up. Obviously we are scoring enough if at all. Am not even looking foward to the game at camp nou. I think we’ll find the mythical rock bottom there.
are you seeing Leicester fans protesting? Arsenal fans are up with banners cause something is terribly wrong at the club. AW should realise that once he gets his head from his @$$.
So do I Mg.
Morning Marshall. Agree, his comments will hardly help and as said, he’s hardly blame free after the defeat on Sunday. Where’s the ‘togetherness’ AW talks about. These players should keep zipped and work a lot harder on stopping the rot…
This is a sober article on Arsene Wenger by Phil. It’s about time.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/35799716
Yeah Rico, our players love the limelight. Everyday there is an arsenal player talking to the press. Their heads are not in the game. Rico I wonder if they are offered a bonus for winning the league? It’s a shame that lot doesn’t know how the medal weighs on your shoulders.
Have you seen the official site this morning Marshall?
Ha ha, I doubt re winning the league and a bonus… Mind you, Stan would know his money was safe… lol
Only way to get rid of Wenger is no1 renew season tickets. I said a few weeks back that playing Chambers CB is the way forward for the rest of the season with Kos by his side… I thought a lot of Gabriel but he’s way too rash and merts is past it… I called for Couq and Eleney thinking it would provide our back 4 with protection and I really don’t know what Couq offers these days he used to be flying around the pitch winning the ball back but he’s came back from injury and it’s like well I proved I’m good enough last year and he’s gone down a gear…. Eleney is too early to judge and how we’ve missed Santi but it’s always someone we miss every year… Welbeck has to be 1st choice for the seaon now and not right or left wing which is a insult and tryin to play Theo up front again stinks of desperation and really impacts Giroud and Welbeck (it would me playing a right winger up front ahead of an out and out striker) not gonna bother watching the Barcelona game we’ll get thrashed they’ve not lost in nearly 40 games and we’ve got more chance of pissing in the popes hat then winning 3-0…
Fact –
Arsenal have won 4 games from the last 14…… imploded big time
I posted this on yesterday’s blog, but it still seems relevant. The only consistency is its total lack of consistency, both on and off the pitch and both players and management. The whole club appears to posy turvy and run on the basis of crisis management but with no positive end product. Anyway my thoughts on AW and his approach to management:
Wenger can be seen as a series of contradictions, a problem that often afflicts the old and infirm. They lose the power of memory and projection into the future. For example of a few Wenger balls:
“We have enough” and then releases our best youngsters out on loan. How many? 6, 8 or so. With the exception of Sanogo all the rest could and perhaps should have had some quality first team action. But they were not available! Instead he kept the permanent crocks who have occupied 3 valuable first team squad spots. Etc etc.
“You find me better than what we already have.” I’ll leave it to you guys to fill in the innumerable, quality players who could have filled those spots.
“We will buy if we can get value for money”. Mahrez, Payet, Kane, Delli Ali, Stones, the list is endless.
“We try hard in every game,” not bloody hard enough it would seem.
“After 30 years as a coach, at the very highest level, there is nothing you can tell me that I don’t already know!” (Or words of that sort.) Hubris? Where is it?
“We cannot compete with the citehs, Chelsea’s or Uniteds of this world. We don’t have their money.” Except of course, according to Sir Chips, we have. We have plenty! Or is the syrup creaming off the top without declaring how many millions he is farming, via the Cayman Islands, back to one of his ranches back in the ol’ US of A! (Allegedly).
The truth is………there is no truth. Well not yet. We have to wait for the autobiography and then the truth may really be revealed……..or not!
Time for a change. New owner required. One who gives a shit, would be progress. And new manager required. Well who’s available? David Moyes, Brenda’s teeth, Dougie Freedman, Tony Adams, Merse! The list is endless. I’d put my money on Billy Wright because he would make Wenger look good and enable him to say, “you don’t know what you had until it’s gone”. That’d teach us, wouldn’t it?
Oh, morning all.
4 from 14 is shocking Steven, and yet this was our season…
What a joke….
Kroenke and Wenger out. Usmanov and Simeone in. This change will bring joy on the face of all AFC fans,
That’s funny Wavy. Not so keen on your manager options though…. lol
Stan is not going anywhere.
Why would he???
Tell me about it Rico!! we’ve done a spurs! just like to mention how hard they are to actually beat most organized team since we had GG managing us! makes me feel sick!
Agree Scott, unless the fans force him out. That’s possible as it’s happened at other clubs…
Me too Steven, gawd help us if they win the league…
with Gabriel in the line up, we lost all the games.
It is not in cause his qualities but that the reality. Witchcraft?
For me, tomorrow ame s not interesting. Even wecan go through (0,00001 chances), we will be drop in next round.
With the scores on last weekend, just two times can win the League,
So, we must try to be 3thd and start thinking in next season (without AW. Nowadays, it’s the problema not the solution)
lol Rico HH is the only arsenal related site am going to currently. Am sure Stan doesn’t want to pay champions league bonuses too.
Just peeped at the site, Per is all over it. When is his contract due? Funny we’ll go into this TW with the same problems we had in the previous window, and the previous one, and…you get the drift.
Tickets will be sold no matter what. As bleak as it is if I got a chance to buy a ST I would, but I’d sit out afew matches if that’ll bring changes. We should miss all our remaining home matches. Camp outised Em’s with bigger banners.
4games in 14 is last half of the table form. Let’s not get overboard.
Don’t think we need to worry about the next round in the CL Jm…..
Kos is too Marshall, the pressure is off the team tomorrow so that should help us…
I do get the drift, same old squad problems have been apparent since goodness knows how long so I doubt anything will change this summer with AW’s approach. (if he stays)
Like the idea of camping at the Ems with huge banners – get Kroenke to take notice, even if it’s done after the season ends…
better approach at the end of the season, its not the right thing to do, to destabilize the team let’s get the next 9 games out of the way well actually we can start the protest against villa because they’re not picking any points up at our ground ha
Brudder get your Cessna 182 out of the hanger and we’ll fly over the Emirates stadium next home game towing a giant syrup behind us……… Winner!
Rico, I reckon such a demo with will not look like a good brand across the world. Our summer activities won’t change as long as we are paying Stan 3m for ‘moneyball’ and making sure there is good wifi in the stadium.
Stan will save us.
I wouldn’t bet on us beating Villa these days… 😉
Tough eh Marshall, the silent one needs to switch on to how fans feel. Put the pressure on him to react, and the manager of course…
“we can start the protest against villa because they’re not picking any points up at our ground ha” are you 100% confident of that Steven?
Rico, ya reckon he has pay TV back at the ranch?
If so, surely he’d have the volume turned down so as not to upset the cattle lol
Lol Rico we are at their level. We might sneak a late winner. It’s better we admit maybe we are not a big club as we think we are. We are just fortunate our club overachieves. Maybe that’s the best we can do. 3rd or 4th and no chance in UCL. We might be at peace- well tha’s what am telling myself.
I’m sure one of his staff who he delegates Arsenal business to would be whispering in his ear Scott…
🙂 Marshall. We’re a big club with small ambition…
Steven, we are not scoring goals. Villa are assured of atleast a point mate.
well Watford didn’t stand a chance either.
Lol Lee, can that fella who flies all the way from SouthAfrica lend us his chopper? If he loves the brand that much he’d want to be part of the course I imagine.
Our ambitions are pathetic Rico
Really good post imo..
http://le-grove.co.uk/2016/03/14/wenger-can-go-the-easy-way-or-the-ugly-way-but-its-clear-the-end-is-upon-us/
Stan the wrangler? Stan the rustler? Stan the settler? Stan the frontiersman?
What is Stan? Who is he?
Tell you what……..he ain’t no saviour! Although he may be a bit of a saver!
My considered opinion is that, “we do not want his sort at our club.”
Only to tell him how much his shares are worth 🙂
Still, Arsene leaves, and I do think he will, Stan will get us a new manager, hand selected, and throw a big budget at him.
Watch us soar then.
Pigs might fly, as well.
You watch what happens, Rico.
If we do keep dropping games, it’ll increase the likelihood of Wenger going, and suddenly, fans will ALL turn on Stan.
I’ll take bets on this, and it’ll bring me absolutely no joy to collect, but if Wenger leaves, we won’t finish top 4 next season.
Well, unless Stan goes, as well.
He will replace Wenger with a nobody, because anyone of repute will demand a decent war chest.
Can anyone honestly see Stan copping that?
Spot on Marshall, pathetic…
Brudder. But will me flying us over the Emirates towing a giant syrup affect the brand that is Arsenal?
I don’t agree Scott, this squad is far better than the last run of results has shown imo…
This current team managed by a proper manager would be pissing this league, in fact what manager in their right mind would of gambled on the fitness of so many players before the season started??
Stan’s got a lot to answer….
Thats true Rico. We are spending masses on wages but how much of that is wasted every year on crocks and players who should have left ages ago? A million a month on TR, MA and MF. Unfortunately we are going out on the pitch without a plan, with an unbalanced team and zero tactics and preparation for the opposition.
Apart from a couple of games and some nice passages of play, we have been embarrassingly average this year. Yes, some players are out of their depth and I do wonder what on earth Ozil must think he was bought to the club for. But, I don’t see that massive amounts are needed. The surplus players out, those that remain should be given the opportunity to show what they can do and if they can’t do it, then they must be replaced, hopefully by a ruthless new manager as Wenger has proved over the years that he is way too complacent on this stuff.
It’s not as if we don’t have bundles in the bank either. Biggest cash reserves in World football ain’t bad.
He has Lee, he gave the man a new contract two years ago… And as he said, he’s not interested in winning Championships…
That’s something which I can never understand Adam. For a man so tight, why waste so much money on players who just aren’t going to be played or fit. Makes the quad look deep in numbers but it’s all false…
Nor is Wenger interested in winning anything…
A lot of this stems from when Dein left, Wenger took over his role too….. should of stuck to managing the team on the pitch not all the other stuff that came with it!
Afternoon all,
Surely Mr Wenger 20 years younger will take over when Villa get relegated. He can even be hand picked by Wenger.
None to little budget expected, brought up on the Wenger ideals, former player, all equals money in the bank and Stan over the moon.
Can’t disagree there Lee…
And spot on re Dein leaving, once in control, he’s remained in control. I bet he wouldn’t have had Usmanov bought up all the shares…. 😉
I hope not Brad. Otherwise, in 20 years time we’ll be saying the same about him… lol
I’m sure it’ll be sooner than that. He looks like he has less ambition than Wenger does now days.
I will not tolerate syrups…
Rico. Sitting up in the stands, for a while now I have been amazed at how far some of our players have regressed and how quickly they opt for the square ball. They are playing with fear and whatever has happened to our coaching? Gabriel looked like a decent CB when he came but now he looks like an out-of-control accident waiting to happen. Where is the progression in this squad?
He sure does Brad.
Me neither Kev, especially Americans.. lol
I get that Adam, that’s even visible from my armchair… 😉
Too many have regressed for it to be a just a blip, that’s for sure…
Stan is apparently doing extra training sessions behind Wenger’s back….. syrups for goal posts so I’m told. Can you validate this Brudder or Kev?
The Dortmund manager (Tuchel) seems pretty switched on…. can do a coat zip up too!
Perfect fit.
He’s not long at Dortmund so would he wanting to move so soon?
What about Guus hidink?
Yeah forgot that but,he’s probably on a quarter of what Wenger earns per year….
I wouldn’t want Gus….
Very true, he might be tempted by £8 million a year….
Interesting analysis on Bein Sports, by both Christian Vieri and Ray Hudson the other day. They pointed to the same thing Adam just touched on… how much the team has REGRESSED. They both placed the blame on Wenger. Vieri in particular thinks that position by position this is a good squad. He mentioned Sanchez, Ozil and Cech as top class and they both see the problem being motivation and tactics. Hudson in particular said that when the season started he picked Arsenal as the PL champs because he believe on paper they were that good….. Stan can believe in “money ball” all he wants, but there is no way this Arsenal team should be losing to Watford.
Bilic has impressed at West Ham and despite having his best players sold from under him, Koeman has done a solid job at Southampton…
Failing that there’s always Bob Magabe….
Syrups for goalposts ?
I actually think we need a coach like Guus. One that can organise and be able to give the arrogant slackers a kick up the jack.
I Just Hope The Supporters Make Themselves Heard Over The Next 8 PL games.. what we do now will hopefully bring about change in the summer.
No point doing fuck all now and then all kicking off again come sept when we haven’t strengthened as per usual and the same old performances start all over again.
Double tuchel wages and it’ll still be lower than wengers he’ll come sure it’s all about money these days.
Koeman, would probably do a good job imo
If Newcastle get relegated Benitez??..
Kel, there’s probably a plethora of managers that would be an upgrade on the current Wenger.
Some fans need to realize that there is life after Wenger and you never know things may start to improve from this current shit show.
Actually all the managers that have been snapped up already by our close competitors would of been fine…………. ho hum!
He’s not doing so well at Chelsea Brad…. Lol
Not Rafa Kel, anyone but Rafa…
I thought Klopp might be the one, too late now though…
Exactly Lee.. to many fearing change a more astute manager with this current team could work wonders.
Lol rico…not a fan if the Spanish waiter then.
Someone mentioned de Boer.and DB10 earlier, they’d do for me.
Benitez? Never. Never liked him and I never thought he did a good job at the dippers. He got lucky and won the CL, and that was lucky! Was the fix in? It looked a lot like it to me!
As for the rest of the suggestions I’m not convinced by any of them, tbh.
Just to add:
I don’t know why we are even discussing this topic, it can only be academic as Wenger still has a year left on his contract, and he never breaks a contract!
Still only a year to go, perhaps I’m wrong, perhaps we do have to start looking for a replacement now. We don’t want to pick a duffer, do we?
That all depends on the supporters wavy… The Emirates could become a very hostile place for wenger over the the next 2 months…
He always honours his contracts, well there’s a first time for everything 😉
No Kel… Lol
De Boer and Dennis would do me Wavy…
I see Arteta is undecided on whether to go to City or not….
Why would Arteta get off the Arsenal gravy train?
I could think of a few reasons….
Does anyone else get a ‘this page is not secure’ message when leaving a comment using an iPad?
I do Rico.
I also do from my iPhone Rico
Thanks Adam/Kev.
Started happening for me a few days ago but before it’s always been fine… Odd?
Have we all been compromised then Rico..? ?
I don’t know Kev, I’ve just emailed a man who might know though… Lol
Maybe KSE is hacking us? ?
🙂
I’m watching you Mr Allezkev. 🙂
And I’m watching you Mr Adam… 😉
See, I don’t fear Arsene leaving, I’m saying he must go-I said that at the start of the season if he failed to win the League after not buying, he has no choice, but as always, people ignore that when debating.
It’s not fear at all that says we will flounder, it’s being realistic.
What Stan will or won’t allow the new guy to do is what worries me.
He will not bring a big name in.
He won’t bring a big character in.
He will try to find someone to replicate what Wengers done-top 4, big profits.
But that doesn’t mean it could go wrong Scott, after all, who’d heard of Wenger before he arrived?
I kinda agree with ya Scott I do think Stans brand will drop outta the top 4 maybe thats what it’ll take to get rid of him, And you’re right it’s only being realistic to think that.
I just hope it doesn’t.
If you think my comment earlier about to many fear change was directed at you m8 it wasn’t its a general thought I have.
Still think there’s not a lot wrong with our squad and someone new would get a lot more from them than AW is…..
Tend to agree with that , we play to a system that isn’t working . Our players appear not to be able to make it work . It is incumbent on the manager to find a system that they can play.
True rico it’s all down to a good manager choice We all have are own thoughts on that I do agree with what you said earlier on klopp I also hoped we could have got him but we missed the boat there 🙁
Same old with Arsene Wenger though, square pegs in round holes potter.
The Watford guy isn’t bad Kel… 😉
I’m compromised too, then. I keep getting the ‘cancel’ or ‘submit’ message. Sadly I always submit because it’s in my DNA!
Any advice or just ignore it?
It’s being looked into Wavy. How long have you been getting that message?
Everything is all clear on Android..
Thanks Kel
He could be a possibility rico… just looked him up previously managed valencia, Benfica, Ath.Madrid
I’ve been afflicted for 3 or 4 days! Didn’t really think much of it, till now.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsene-wenger-rubbishes-arsenal-quit-7563247
Think Arsene Wenger needs to realise that the club was in existence long before he arrived!
There’s many out there Kel, many younger ones too…
About the same for me Wavy, odd really as it’s always been fine…
Both City defenders have been injured tonight, that could help our top four challenge… Lol
Catch up tomorrow guys.
Night all..
Ditto rico, Arsenal had a long history before he arrived and will have a long history after he’s gone, sorry if that hurt’s some peoples feelings.
Rico, who chose Wenger though?
Who do we currently have that we would trust to make as good a decision???
Thats a major concern.
Timing is everything……nite rico !
Kel, all good mate….i have more fear about Wenger staying now.
The potential damage to be done is massive.
When we see our own fans fighting at games, its pretty obvious things must change, and as Stan wont budge, Arsene must, else things will be even worse next season.
There is absolutely no positive in him staying, no matter which angle we look at it from.
Still, i hope he walks as id hate to see him sacked.
As for the lack of respect he cops from fans, well it seems there are still plenty of true Arsenal supporters who, though they concede its time for him to go, remain respectful, something plenty can not manage.
Agreed Micko.
Lets hope Arsenes is as good as yours.
Thankyou Scott, at last we agree, I was beginning to think your were a bit dim lol.
Id be concerned if we agreed on too much 🙂
I said it before Scott I feel sorry for the man he’s a legend at Arsenal. I’m genuinely gutted for him tbh but I think we all agree his time is up
Unfortunately it looks like he doesn’t wanna go anywhere, which worries me as I think he’s gonna have to pushed out now and my guess is things will get abusive 🙁
I Just hope this all happens between now and may.. so whoever becomes the new manager has the best possible chance for next season.
Good night guys I’m of to watch The Walking Dead. Might see Arsene in it lol 😉
Kel, I wouldn’t feel too sorry for Arsene, he’s only got to pop down to his local ATM for a “pick me up”
Continually short changed every season, only end up looking back to each summer transfer window with regrets, there’s no way with only 48 hours to go we ain’t gonna sign a striker………….only at Arsenal.
Sorry if this sounds like heresy but after 20 odd years it’s time to get a younger more modern thinking manager in who with this squad of players will blow this league away imo.
Just glad it wasn’t Pep Guardiola as he’s only got a 70% win record and he’d be much better off at Citeh.
Anyway, enuf of my ramblings, nite Gooners, keep it real.
Kel, hes brought plenty on himself, though.
If he stays, he will lose even more supporters which he can ill afford.
His call not to buy in the summer has come back to haunt him, and though i doubt Stan allows him the free run at transfers plenty think he has, no doubt he was allowed to buy more than a GK.
Micko, at least Pep would have had a challebge with us.
It would have shown whether he really can manage or if hes been stumped up by World Class squads and massive budgets.
I reckon hes got a question mark on him but thats not to say hes not a great manager, just that, imo, he hasn’t proved it.
Citeh offers us no further insight, either.
Arsenal would have.
Night guys..
Arsene Wenger: “I have no doubt about my huge motivation. I built the club, and the way I did it was with hard work. I had no external resources.’
“If you compare the club when I arrived and how it is today it is moved forward, and without any help from anybody.’
“I’ll leave this club in better shape than I found it.”
Syrups for goalposts
I don’t usually tolerate complacency, but if Barcelona wanna take it easy this evening I won’t complain…
Wouldn’t it be so typically Arsenal if we won 2-1, another glorious failure for Arsene to hang his hat on….
Morning All
Morning Rico, Lee and Mr Adam…
Kev, nothing would surprise me with the Barca game.
Nothing at all.
The trouble is, if we come out humming and really go at them, win, lose or draw, the manager and club look silly, because it raises the question why it halons every now and again.
If we get belted, we look stupid as well 🙂
Morning all.
Morning Rico, Mr Allezkev and all.
Strange statement that from Arsene.
I thought we were founded in 1886?
“I had no external resources.” all that season ticket money you’ve shelled out counts for fuck all.
Strange comments indeed Brudder, death throes?
Morning Scott
Some of Wengers public utterances are certainly strange.
First time since he became manager, that he’s been under such concerted criticism and scrutiny.
It seems to be having an adverse effect on his view of the world of all things Arsenal.
Of course Kroenke, if he had any backbone, would come out and make his backing of his manager public in no equivocal terms, but that idiot is probably riding the range dreaming of Inglewood…
Arsene re-writing Arsenal history?
As always, Arsene is his own worst enemy.
Morning Adam, Scott, Kev, Lee and all…
I couldn’t believe what I was reading when I read those comments from AW. What a silly thing for him to say…
Arrogance..
For an intelligent guy, he’s pretty dumb lol
To be fair to him he definitely made wholesale changes/ improvements to Arsenal (the PL too) but that was quite a while ago…. through his early transfer prudence and ability to keep the team in the top four on a small budget he helped pay for the stadium.
Things have moved on and Wenger unfortunately hasn’t… sad but true.
Tonight will be interesting to see what attitude the players have how many play for either the manager or the club. If they can’t get up for it tonight then the decision over their or the manager ‘s future should be a little clearer.
Lee, I said a few weeks ago the winning culture is gooooone.
It’s not something they’ve been able to switch back on, as a club.
I’d have to agree Lee but all the good he did, he’s slowly undone. Yes the club are in a great financial place but as far as our football goes, he’s seriously regressed…
Well, he obviously feels under attack which is presumably why he has the need to let us know what he has done for the club. The irony is that we all know these things and have tremendous respect for him because of them. It’s a real shame for me that things couldn’t be handled better by Arsenal. There is nothing shameful about getting older. Every dog has his day, as the saying goes. But we saw all the belligerence that surrounded Maggie Thatcher’s departure too.
Often, when the end of something arrives, people behave in crazy ways. The board and Kroenke are bound to state their unequivocal support as a show of solidarity. They want to ensure that supporters, who believe the club needs a change, feel bad for criticising someone who has clearly been such a major figure in Arsenal’s history. The problem arises when blind loyalty triumphs over a degree of pragmatism that every club needs. As ever with football, the truth lies mostly in the results.
Fight or flight Adam….
New post up now..